Background: Anemia in newborn babies causes asymptomatic to an acute life-threatening event. If untreated, it leads to a delay in brain maturation, tissue hypoxia, and stunted growth. In Sub-Saharan Africa, its burden ranges 23-66%. However, in Ethiopia, there is limited information regarding the prevalence and associated factors of newborn anemia. Thus, this study was aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of anemia among fullterm newborn babies. Method: Cross-sectional study was conducted from February 1 to April 30, 2019, among 192 full-term newborn babies. A systematic random sampling technique was employed to select study participants. Socio-demographic characteristics were collected through interviews. Clinical data were collected by reviewing medical records. Cord blood was collected from the clumped cord. Complete blood count was analyzed by using the Sysmex KX-21 N hematology analyzer. SPSS 20 was used to analyze the data. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression were used to identify associated factors. P-value < 0.05 was considered a statistically significant association. Result: The median (interquartile range) of cord hemoglobin was 15 g/dL (13.93-16.2 g/dL). From the total, 25% (95% CI: 18.9, 31.1%) of the newborns were anemic. From anemic 89.5, 6.3, and 4.2% were mild, moderate and severe anemia type, respectively. Maternal vegetable consumption habit (AOR = 0.34, 95%CI: 0.17, 0.69) were significant associated with anemia. Conclusion: Anemia among newborn babies found to be a moderate public health problem. Based on the finding early screening of newborn anemia may reduce further complications.

Background. Though World Health Organization recommends 100% voluntary blood donation, the percentage of blood collected from voluntary blood donors and the average annual blood collection rate are extremely low in Ethiopia. The role of adults is crucial to meet the demand of safe blood. Thus, this study aimed to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of adult population towards blood donation in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. Method. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 768 adults. Multistage sampling technique together with simple random and systematic random sampling technique was employed. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis and bivariate correlation analysis were done. Result. About 436 (56.8%), 630 (82%), and 141 (18.4%) study participants had adequate knowledge, good attitude, and experience of blood donation, respectively. Secondary and higher educational statuses were significantly associated with adequate knowledge towards blood donation. Participants who were protestant by religion were more likely to have good attitude towards blood donation. Age, self-perceived health status, and religion were significantly associated with blood donation practice. Conclusion. Knowledge and attitude towards blood donation are high. However, the level of practice is low. District and national blood banks and transfusion agency should design strategies that promote and motivate the communities to donate blood.

BackgroundTransfusion-transmissible viral infections, such as hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), remain a major public health problem in developing countries. The prevalence of these viral infections among blood donors may reflect the burden of these diseases among populations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the sero-prevalence of transfusion-transmissible viral infections among blood donors.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted using data obtained from registration books of blood donors from the Ethiopian North Gondar District Blood Bank from 2010 to 2012. Descriptive statistics, such as percentages, medians and interquartile ranges were computed. A binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with each viral infection. The odds ratio with a 99% confidence interval was calculated. A p-value < 0.01 was considered statistically significant.ResultA total of 6,471 blood donors were included in the study. Of these, 5,311 (82.1%) were male, and 382 (5.9%) were voluntary blood donors. Overall, 424 (6.55%) of the blood donors were sero-reactive for at least one transfusion-transmissible viral infection. Of all study participants, 233 (3.6%) were sero-reactive for HBV, 145 (2.24%) were sero-reactive for HIV, and 51 (0.8%) were sero-reactive for HCV. Four (0.062%) of the study’s participants were co-infected: 3 (75%) with HBV-HCV and 1 (25%) with HIV-HBV-HCV. Being a farmer, unemployed or employed donor was significantly associated with transfusion-transmissible viral infections compared to being a student donor.ConclusionThe prevalence of transfusion-transmissible viral infections is substantial and has increased overtime. Hence, it demands more vigilance in routine screening of donated blood prior to transfusion. Further community-based studies to identify societal risk factors are necessary.

BACKGROUND: Blood transfusion is one of the most essential needs to manage patients suffering from various medical conditions. Nowadays, voluntary blood donors are the only source of blood in the blood banks. There is a great need to create awareness among the population at large and students about blood donation to maintain a regular blood supply. Health Science students can be used as best model to lead this initiative. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding blood donation among graduating undergraduate Health Science students.METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among graduating undergraduate Health Science students at University of Gondar using structured pre-tested self-administered questionnaire. Stratified sampling technique was employed to select study participants. A total of 225 students participated in the study. Data was entered into and analyzed using SPSS software version 20. Mean score was used to categorize the knowledge and attitude. Binary logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with knowledge, attitude and practice regarding blood donation.RESULT: Among 255 undergraduate Health Science graduate students, 123(48.2%) and 202(79.2%) had adequate knowledge about and positive attitude regarding blood donation, respectively. About 12.5% of them had ever donated blood before. Age ≥25 years was significantly associated with practice of blood donation (AOR=4.33; 95%CI: 1.60, 11.76).CONCLUSION: Although the majority of the students had positive attitude regarding blood donation, blood donation practice was low. Age was found to be significantly associated with blood donation practice. Targeted strategies should be designed to increase awareness of health science students about blood donation. Strategies which encourage the students to donate blood voluntarily should also be designed. KEYWORDS: Knowledge, attitude, practice, blood donation

Background Blood transfusion is an effective treatment for saving millions of lives even though transfusion- transmissible infections are the major problem. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the sero-prevalence and trend of transfusion-transmissible infections among blood donors. Methods A retrospective study was conducted form July 2014 to June 2018 at Bahir Dar district blood bank. Descriptive statistics was presented using percentages, medians and interquartile ranges. Logistic regression was used to explore risk factors associated with each transfusion transmissible infections. Result From a total of 35,435 blood donors 2130 (6.0%) of them had serological evidence for at least one infection and 50 (0.14%) of them were confirmed as having multiple infections. The overall sero-prevalence of HBV, HCV, HIV and syphilis was 230 (6.0%) with 3.9%, 0.6%, 0.5% and 1.2% respectively. From those who had co-infection majority of them 22 (44.0%) were attributed to HBV-Syphilis co-infection and 1 (2.0%) study participant was co-infected with HBV-HIV- Syphilis infection. There was an increment in the overall prevalence of transfusion-transmissible infection;183 in 2014/2015 to 624 in 2017/2018. The sero-prevalence of HBV show a significant increment tend with respect to year of donation. On the other hand HCV and HIV sero-prevalence show an increasing trend from 2014 and decrease in 2018. The sero-prevalence of syphilis was 67 (1.3%) in 2015 and duplicate in 2016, 138 (1.5) but subsequently decrease to 110 (1.1%) in 2017 and in 2018 it was 114 (1.0%). Conclusion and recommendations His finding showed growing evidence in the burden of transfusion-transmissible infection in blood donors despite which requires advanced and vigilance screening of donated blood prior to transfusion. More over there should be strategies for monitoring the implementation of post donation counseling for recruitment and retention of safe regular donors.